The Measure of a Man: Ryan Cheong

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Calling for brothers! Nepal is a place filled with adventure and beauty. We would like to invite you to take up the challenge with us this year in the HWW Singles Corps Kathmandu! I sincerely hope that as I share my personal story with you, it will inspire YOU to join us this year in Nepal.

On May 9, my dad and I were given an opportunity to work together with the HOPE worldwide Disaster Relief Team to give out emergency supplies to villagers.

In the beginning, we were not fully prepared for the trip both spiritually and mentally. We were still scrambling to raise funds prior to the day of the trip. However, God humbled us when we started on the trip and graciously showed us how much we needed to rely on Him.

Deserted. Chaotic. Chalky.This was what stood out to me about Kathmandu in the beginning when I touched down in the capital of Nepal. Half the population had previously fled the city in fear of a second earthquake and little did we know that we would experience the next one.

Most road journeys were on average 5 hours long. We sat at the back of a truck with neither cushion seats nor suspension. The rides were bumpy and one would require a strong gut to stomach the waves of nausea that caught us. At some point, we too had to push the truck up the steep hills and through muddy roads. It was an eye opener for I never knew that Nepal was a place bustling with adventure and excitement!Indeed, Nepal challenges our physical perseverance. This has forced me to rely on God for strength.

My best memory of the trip was a 10-hr ride to Jimnang village which was situated within a remote area of Nepal. Throughout the journey, the truck rode on a dirt path of a slip road which was wide enough for only one vehicle to pass at a time.

We were on our 6 hour mark when I heard a “Boom!” as the house in front of us collapsed into smithereens and we could see dust rings building up from the villages below us. My dad and I were on a hill, 8 hours away from Kathmandu but from our position, we could still feel the tremors from the second earthquake.

My driver began to panic when he heard his phone ring-- it was not the first time that he had experienced an earthquake. One of his family members called to inform him that he one of his houses back in his village had collapsed and pleaded for him to come home.

In a blink of an eye, everything went downhill. The driver told us he wanted to head back home now, but we knew that we could not turn back where we came from without risking our lives. The sun would begin to set in a few hours and thus, not enough time for us to arrive back in the city safely.

The remaining leg of the journey was arduous, both physically and emotionally; we had to clear rocks off the path from the landslide, and push the lorry up the steep slopes against gravity.

We had no food and limited water supply throughout the period, and it seemed as if our bodies were giving up on us at times. The most emotionally draining part was how insistent our driver was about returning home to be with his family, but my dad persevered in assuring the driver that all of us would be able to get out of this rut safely.

It was undoubtedly God’s plan that he put the Nepali disciples with us. They showed us what mental strength and perseverance was when they endured the same obstacles as my dad and me, but doing so without grumbling. Their attitude helped me to get through the trip on a much positive note.

Finally, we reached the village. It was pitch dark as the power had tripped and electricity was cut off.

Another incident that impacted me was how the villagers allowed strangers like us to live in their homes for us to recuperate. They also provided us with food and wonderful black tea when we were famished.

God showed me that in the end, it was all worth it.

The next day we gave out tarpaulins, rice, and other basic necessities to the people.As I strolled through the village, I saw how much the people needed the supplies-- most of their houses were flattened by the back-to-back earthquakes and the school built out of concrete where all the village children went, was devastated. The homes that we were put up in for the previous night was hastily made with leftover zinc from their old homes.

The perseverance from the villagers moved my heart and inspired me to see how God was able to use this trip to Nepal to teach me how to show love to people around me back home. It also showed me the importance of how our mere presence in the needy community could have an effect on their lives.

The people in Nepal still need a lot of help; the children and women are still at risk from human traffickers while the school-going children still need our love and foundational education. Women and children serve as easy preys to human traffickers. Also, most people had little to no access to proper sanitation and struggled with meeting their daily nutritional intake.

The challenge that most men face while on volunteer trips (HYC / HSC) is to acknowledge the emotions we feel when we see the devastation and widespread destruction that the people have to go through. Emotions are good. Sensitivity and vulnerability are good. Sometimes men try to be “tough” and “strong”, yet it is okay to feel and even cry. Jesus did.

I know for a fact that as you serve in Nepal or other places around the world, you will be inspired yourself to grow in your love for God’s people and most importantly, your love for God.What you do will really change people’s lives.

* Since 27 Nov 2017, Mount Agung Volcanic Eruption has dispersed about 40,000 residents from 10km from the crater.

* The government has set up several emergency camps for displaced residents.

* In the last 48 hours, the volcano has shown a slow down of seismic activities. Just like other volcanoes, it is a bit difficult to conclude whether the activities is slowing down or is the crater getting clogged.

* The volcano remains in high alert and residents are not yet cleared to return to the villages.

* Meanwhile, the city of Denpasar and many other tourism sites are not affected. Airport has resumed its operation.

* HOPE worldwide Indonesia continue to monitor the situation closely. So far, the basic needs are covered by the local government and residents. However, our prepositioned food supplies remains on stand by if there are needs for mobilization.

* Indonesia has also been experiencing several flooding and landslides as the rainy season is starting to be more active.

* As we serve the country, HOPE worldwide will continue to monitor the disasters that take place and provide assistance whenever there is a need in the community.

* Please continue to pray for the country as well as many other vulnerable countries.

UPDATE:

The airport on the holiday island of Bali has reopened after tens of thousands of travelers were stranded for two days due to an erupting volcano, but Indonesia's President said the danger has not passed and urged anyone within the mountain's exclusion zone to get out "for the sake of their safety." Mount Agung’s hazard zone has up to 100,000 people that are called to evacuate the area around the crater, however only 43,000 people have followed the order. Villagers around the Bali Volcano are refusing to leave despite warnings of an “imminent” larger eruption, with the state of emergency extended to at least December 10. HOPEww is on the ground and is closely monitoring the situation for ways to provide relief.

Prayers for Indonesia!

Mount Agung on the Indonesian island of Bali continues to release volcanic ashes after several days of eruptions. Ash and debris are shooting as high as two miles high causing mass spread of hazardous pollutants into the air. As many as 40,000 residents are encouraged to take shelter away from the danger zone. The international airport has been shut down and many people are in need of shelter and essential supplies.

Our own Charles Ham, Disaster Response Coordinator, and the HOPEww rapid response team are on the scene. They rushed to deliver masks and assess the situation on the ground. Many of the residents need food, shelter, blankets and possibly health care depending on the severity of the upcoming days. We ask for your prayers for these individuals who are experiencing this displacement right now. Please pray for their safety, for their needs to be met and for our staff and volunteers to have the wisdom and the resources to help them in the best way possible.

Come join us in 2018 as we learn to walk “In His
Steps”! We are excited to offer 27 life-changing trips all over the world
throughout 2018! Many of our most popular sites fill up within the first
month of registration so to increase your chance of getting your top choice,
make sure to apply early! This year most of our programs are open to all
– teens, campus, singles and families.

As we travel to foreign countries
to serve and learn, we encounter amazing individuals, whose lives have been
transformed by the work of HOPE worldwide
. We strongly
believe in respectful service. On our Volunteer Corps, we assist existing
programs, and provide additional help. We do contribute, but we also learn from
the incredibly resilient individuals we meet. While serving in Africa these
past few months, we met these courageous women…

Challenge accepted!! Recently, a member of our community challenged our supporters and friends to raise a total of $50,000 by December 31, 2017 for HYC Scholarships. Our generous donor will match what we raise dollar-for-dollar! The money raised to meet this challenge will help students experience this amazing program. Double the impact of your gift by donating today!

The individual who raises the largest amount will get a full scholarship to the HYC of their choice* for 2018 sites! (prize does not include airfare).

Every year, hundreds of students volunteer their time to plant, rebuild, mentor, train and encourage. Thank you for making it possible for those with limited financial resources to share in this incredible opportunity to serve those in need.

Churches in South Florida are continuing to bring hope to Bolivia through the 5th annual “Celebration of Caring Golf Classic.” The fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, November 17 on Key Biscayne off of the Miami mainland.

The Golf Classic benefits HOPE worldwide
Bolivia, providing funding for programs that serve Bolivia’s children and most vulnerable populations. Since HOPEww was established in 2011 in the capital city of La Paz, the country’s health care and social services systems have been positively impacted. The tournament has raised $157,000 since its inception!

There are six levels of sponsorships ($1,500 - $5,000), and individuals can golf for $225. All information is included on the website ( www.CelebrationofCaring.com
), including a registration portal and links to videos, stories and blogs about the work in La Paz. Individuals can also donate through the website.

The Crandon Park golf course is considered one of the most picturesque in Florida. Golfers are surrounded by tropical foliage, mangroves and breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay as they encounter seven saltwater lakes and challenging sand traps during their round.

Former Florida residents Dr. Kevin & Noelle Broyles lead HOPE worldwide
Bolivia. The Duke-educated Dr. Broyles was behind the building of Centro Médico Internacional Hope Clinic in Bolivia, a cutting-edge sustainable social enterprise that will generate revenue to meet increasing medical needs in the La Paz community. CMIHope is the result of a joint effort between Foundation Arco Iris and HOPE worldwide
that integrates high quality health services to the population of Zona Sur of La Paz with financial support to the charitable work of HOPEww and Hospital Arco Iris, who partner to serve Bolivia’s large indigent population.

“Celebration of Caring” welcomes all golfers to join in this “fun”draiser.

It’s taken me a long time to process what
happened in Africa. I’ve been home for over a month. It didn’t help that two days after returning
to the States, I was thrown back into the routine of starting a new school year,
half asleep and still hungover from a three week adrenaline rush. And it didn’t help that as soon as I got back,
people were asking about the trip – “How was Africa?” “Did you get sick?” “How was the food?” “Were
you scared?” “We’ve been praying for you.”

I was overwhelmed and frustrated with their
simple question. “How was Africa, how
was Africa?” I didn’t want to diminish
the effect this trip had on my heart by spewing out words that didn’t give it
justice. I didn’t want people to ask, because I wasn’t ready to answer. My
standard answer to people asking became “It was amazing!”. I tried to leave it
at that, though in saying it, I felt both trivial and fake. It was
amazing, but that wasn’t enough.

There is no perfect way to describe serving in
Africa. I guess I can start by telling the story of how my family came to be
there. After all, the ‘getting to
Africa’ had a huge impact on my life, as well. January 1st of every year I choose a
spiritual quality that I want to grow in, and I work on it for that year. This
year, I decided I wanted to grow in my faith. Through the process of getting to
Africa, I did grow in my faith.

This year I was realizing that it is very easy
to be faithful when you have everything you need. I wanted God to test my faith, and to help me
grow in it. I had no idea of how
he would do this, but I fully
believed he would
do it.

Africa had never been on my bucket list (and
I’d never heard of Zambia!). But I guess God had other plans, because a Bible
study at our home led to an idea, which became a conversation, which quickly
turned into a vision. And that vision was that Dru and I take our girls and go
with the HOPEww Volunteer Corps to Zambia, Africa to renovate a preschool. The project was such a great fit for our
entire family. It was obvious God had his hand in it. Dru is an electrician/plumber/handyman, who
was perfect for building renovations. I
am a teacher, able to help with teacher training and planning in the classroom.
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. It fit in a perfect window in our
summer vacation.

We have 27 trips all over the world throughout the year.
Registration opens on December 1, 2017.
Apply early to ensure you get your top
choice. Some of our more popular trips fill up within the first month of
registration. The Houston Singles Disaster Corps will open registration sooner,
as the program will take place early in the year (February).

Our 2018 theme will be “In His Steps”, and our curriculum will be based on the book of Mark.

So start planning, and start saving! There will be
scholarships available for teens and campus students who need financial
assistance.

UPDATE: We are happy to announce that we were able to successfully send 16 pallets of direct relief to Puerto Rico today! 2 pallets are scheduled to fly out Saturday, October 14 and the rest will be sent by cargo on Sunday. Thank you to all who have contributed to these efforts and a special thank you to the South Florida Churches of Christ for their generosity and the lending of the Broward Church building for our staging area! Please keep Puerto Rico in your prayers as the recovery effort will take months if not years.

"We are grateful that our twin Island Trinidad and Tobago has been spared this season and that we are in a position to help our brothers and sisters throughout the Caribbean. We have joined forces with a local NGO called ITNAC an acronym for "is there not a cause' They are known here as first responders for providing assistance in disaster stricken Caribbean areas. We collect relief items and food and have had our volunteers there daily
. Last night we got the assistance of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment who sent their large trucks and military staff to transportation water and clothing to the port to be taken to Dominica.

One of our sisters Kendra Blanchard, who lives on the Island of Grenada (35 minutes flight from Trinidad) parents live in Dominica, which was badly destroyed by Hurricane Maria. They are alive but their home was damaged and they are staying with neighbours. [Kendra] is attempting to go. Together with ITNAC we plan to charter a boat from Trinidad which can carry supplies and relief workers to Dominica.

We are engaging local donors for housing and medical supplies as well as food and water to be taken on the chartered vessel.

I have been sending regular updates on t e HOPE w orldwide
Trinidad and Tobago Facebook page. You can add me on both to keep abreast if you would like.

I am very grateful that you have made contact with us and for the support offered. I am attaching a few pics of the work and our progress."